Introducing the JUPITER-4 Software
Synthesizer from Roland,
a recreation of an original classic.
First released back in 1978, the
JUPITER-4 would become Roland's
first-ever polyphonic synthesizer,
sporting a host of nuances and
features that would go on to
influence the early synth pioneers
and artists of the time, as
well as paving the way for the
further JUPITER series and its
close family relative, the JUNO
series.
Now the JUPITER-4 is back in full
force with a selection of additional
features, taking this vintage gem
into the modern day, whether it be
on your DAW, in the studio,
or on your hardware on the road
performing live.
So let's dive in and take a closer
look.
As we open up the JUPITER-4,
we're instantly met with the classic
feel and design of the original
synthesizer.
Here we can tweak the filter.
Play with the envelopes.
Or even manipulate the Ensemble and
other effects to create gorgeous
and lush sounds with polyphony.
The original JUPITER-4 had ten
preset memory locations
consisting of orchestral
instruments, keyboards, and basses,
as well as eight user preset
locations in which we can create
our own sounds and store them within
the onboard memory banks.
One of the many new features we'd
like to show you is the expansion
memory within the software plug-in.
Now, Roland
experts and collaborators have
curated a wide selection of new
leads, pads, basses, and much more.
In addition to this, there's much
more room for initial patch memory
where we can create our own sounds
from the ground up and store them.
So as we're using PLUG-OUT software,
why don't we use the SYSTEM-8 to
control some of the JUPITER-4's
parameters on the fly?
Let's have a look at this moody bass
presets.
We're missing a little sub, so let's
dial that up.
The JUPITER-4 originally had a Sub
On-Off feature, and now
we've implemented volume control so
we can add as little or as much as
we'd like.
The same goes for the Noise section,
where it was originally on or off,
we've now added volume control.
To keep up with modern synth
playability, you'll also find
velocity control on both the amp
and the filter.
This way we can turn the JUPITER-4
into a far more expressive
instrument.
Another addition to the JUPITER-4
software is the expansion of
polyphony.
We can now choose between two and
eight voices.
Doubling the JUPITER-4's polyphony
up to eight voices is incredibly
useful for when we want to add more
tonal quality and color to
our playing.
This lead's running a tad thin at
the moment.
So let's utilize some of the new
voice assign features.
At the moment, we're in Poly 2 mode,
so let's switch to Unison 2 to stack
those four voices on top of each
other for an even fatter sound.
Now let's put the LFO to work.
We've added a new Range Selector
switch for the LFO rate.
If we switch to wide, we can get
even slower and even faster LFO
modulation.
Now, as well as the JUPITER-4 being
the first polyphonic synthesizer
from Roland, it was also their
first synthesizer that would
introduce the BBD or Bucket
Brigade Device chip.
This would also be the very same
technology that will go on to power
Roland's famous and iconic chorus
sound as featured in the JUNO-60
and JUNO-106.
When we turn on the Ensemble effect
on the bottom left, we begin to hear
the BBD chip in action.
We're now getting that familiar,
wide, and lush sound that will
fatten our parts in the mix.
We now also have the ability to take
control of the tone quality and
depth of the ensemble effect, as
well as the assigned delay of reverb
effects.
The arpeggiator section has received
an overhaul as well.
We can switch the phrase to the
Random setting as can be found on
the SYSTEM-8,
or we could switch to the Chord
setting, allowing us to play in-sync
harmonic phrases.
The original JUPITER-4 had a hidden
chord feature where we could play
multiple notes at once instead
of singular notes in a linear
fashion.
If you were to engage the
arpeggiator along with the functions
Unison 1 or Poly 1,
this chord feature would come to
life.
We've made this a whole lot easier
by implementing a chord feature on
the arpeggiators phrase selection
wheel.
We've given the JUPITER-4 sync
ability a massive upgrade.
Whereas before we could
only rely on the internal clock, we
now have the option of a tempo sync.
This is incredibly useful when
wanting to use the arpeggiator
section or even the LFO
for more controlled and timely
changes.
If we were to open up a living and
breathing JUPITER-4, we would find
a host of pan pots and attenuators.
Here, we could tune many aspects of
the synth from inside to our liking
such as the filter frequency,
the resonance, and even the
amplitude.
Now, thanks to ACB technology,
we can use the Circuit Mod to
manipulate many of these
characteristics and creates a truly
unique sound.
Let's see how we can use the Circuit
Mod to change the behavior of this
brass sound.
So now we're varying the VCO,
the filter, the envelopes, and
other parameters.
Since the debut of Roland's ACB
technology through the SYSTEM-8
PLUG-OUT range and the Boutique
range, Roland has continually
strived to increase and expand its
understanding into analog behavior
and characteristics, transporting
our experience from a simple
software emulation to an alive
and kicking analog entity.
We're bringing the JUPITER-4
Software Synthesizer into your
studio or production environment
with full VST3, AU, AAX,
and Apple M1 support,
as well as a click and drag zoom
feature for the layout, improving
and enhancing the usability and
experience depending on your screen
size.
Relive the birth of an analog legend
through your DAW or SYSTEM-8
hardware with the JUPITER-4
Software Synthesizer available
now from Roland Cloud.
Go to Roland.com for more
information.